Spring is in the air at Kariya Park: Cherry blossom trees are starting to bloom

Every spring, Kariya Park in Mississauga transforms into a pink wonderland with approximately 80 stunning Japanese cherry blossom trees in full bloom. These trees, a gift from Mississauga’s sister city, Kariya, Japan, boast different varieties and hues. Although the City’s cherry blossom trees bloom at different times, most trees will be in full bloom in the next week or two, weather permitting.

The City’s cherry blossom trees bloom when the temperature reaches at least 15 degrees Celsius for about a week. These beautiful blooms only last for a short time, usually up to two weeks, unless wind or rain knock the flowers off the trees.

Visit Kariya Park

Kariya Park is a stunning, Japanese-inspired park located in the heart of the city. It honours the City’s twin-city relationship with Kariya, Japan. The park features beautiful garden beds, unique Japanese decorations, a marsh and pond and a variety of flora including rhododendrons, pines, ginkgo, sweetgum, magnolias and four different varieties cherry blossom trees.

The park also has a:

• Stone tsukabai basin – which was hand-carved by Fumio Naito, a sculptor from Kariya, Japan.
• Zig-zag boardwalk, which crosses a marsh containing Japanese irises and other water-loving plants.
• Cascade waterfall with overhanging red Japanese maple.
• Dry stream bed, representing a flowing stream with different sizes of stones, carefully placed to imitate fast and slow-moving currents.
• Duck pond with a turtle rock, which represents a turtle climbing out of the water.
• Friendship Bell, located in the pavilion, which is rung on ceremonial occasions.

Kariya Park hours and parking

The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. You can find paid on-street parking on Kariya Drive or in Municipal Parking Lot #36 at the south-east corner of Burnhamthorpe Road and Kariya Drive. With limited parking available, consider walking, biking or taking MiWay to visit the park.

Practise park etiquette at Kariya Park

As we enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom trees, let’s remember to treat our parks with respect. When visiting Kariya Park, remember to:

• Stay on the trails.
• Avoid actions that could potentially harm these trees like climbing on them or pulling at their branches.
• Leave your dogs at home. Dogs are not permitted in the park. If you’re looking for a place to bring your dog, consider visiting a leash-free zone.
• Keep the park beautiful by disposing your waste in the proper bin.
• Only park in permitted areas.
• Don’t feed wildlife like ducks, squirrels and turtles.

Looking for other places to see cherry blossom blooms? You can find a few trees at Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens, St. Lawrence Park and Mississauga Valley.

For more information, please visit mississauga.ca/parks. To find out when the blooms peak, follow @saugaparksrec and @citymississauga on Twitter for updates.

Tags

• Parks and Forestry
• Things to Do
• Trees